Franchise Notes

Nuggets Season-Ticket Holders Who Renew For
'09-10 Will Receive Price Lock For Playoffs

The Nuggets Thursday announced season-ticket holders who renew for the '09-10 season will receive a price lock on their seats for the '09 NBA playoffs, from the first round to the Western Conference Finals, and will pay the same price for the '09-10 regular season. Season-ticket holders at Pepsi Center will also be able to use a new 10-month pay plan. New season-ticket buyers who purchase before April 6 also will receive the price lock for the playoffs. Overall, ticket prices for the '09-10 season will continue to be in the bottom half of the NBA in average price (Nuggets).

ORIOLE OFFER: BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL's Ryan Sharrow reported the Orioles' "Birdland Stimulus Package," a "new promotional offer unveiled Wednesday, includes a kids night, where children ages 10 and under can attend all Thursday home games this season for free when accompanied by a paying adult." The offer "will be valid for up to two children per paid adult" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/25).

LOOKING TO INVEST: Equity 11 Managing Partner J.B. Smith Tuesday met with Steelers President Art Rooney II to "discuss becoming a possible investor in the team." While Smith said in February he had been talking with the Steelers, "no one from the team has publicly mentioned him as an investor" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/26).

CHARGING BUFFALO: In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan writes after cutting G Derrick Dockery and TE Robert Royal, it looks as if Bills COO Russ Brandon "has finally decided to put his foot down and remind everyone he's in charge of the Bills' football operations." It is an "encouraging sign, a bold first step in a critical offseason" for the team. It also is a "slap at [former GM] Marv Levy" and an "indictment of" Bills VP/Pro Personnel John Guy. Guy is "supposed to be the expert on NFL players, but he has rarely hit the jackpot." If Brandon is "worthy of running an NFL operation, he can't continue to reward mediocre performance" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/27).